Microsoft Buying Skype for $8.5 Billion

Microsoft has bought Skype for $8.5 billion, in an all-cash deal. Under Microsoft, Skype will continue to be led by its current CEO, Tony Bates, and will still be supporting non-Microsoft platforms. But since the whole point of the buy was to improve Microsoft's offer, you'll see Skype support everything from the:

• Xbox console and its Kinect
• Windows Phone
• Outlook
• Lync 

Moreover, it also gives the company access to carriers that might not be Windows Phone 7 operators now, but want to use Skype. That’s not to say Microsoft will use its leverage with Skype to try to force carriers to adopt Windows Phone 7.

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